Ambulance stolen from local hospital (more)
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The *Daily Herald* has published a follow-up story about the recent theft of an ambulance from Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. The incident, which took place last week, involved a daring midnight escape and a high-speed chase that spanned over 150 miles.
According to police reports, Samantha Sligar managed to sneak out of the hospital and into the driver’s seat of an unlocked and idling ambulance around 4 a.m. on Friday. At the time, two paramedics had just brought a patient into the emergency room and were restocking their supplies. They didn’t realize the ambulance was missing until less than 20 minutes later.
Within minutes, an alert was issued, and the chase began. Rolling Meadows police were the first to spot the stolen ambulance as it headed east on I-90. Multiple departments joined the pursuit, with squad cars following the vehicle through the early morning hours.
By 4:40 a.m., the ambulance was spotted heading south on I-57 near Matteson. Police tried to pull it over, but Sligar ignored their commands. She continued at high speeds, weaving through traffic, flashing her lights, and blaring sirens. In one instance, she even evaded Illinois State Police at 80 mph.
As the ambulance approached the Ford/Champaign county line, authorities faced a critical decision. However, the troopers who were supposed to take over the chase were delayed due to a major accident involving several tractor-trailers. This caused significant traffic congestion, forcing officers to act quickly.
Rantoul police deployed spike strips on the southbound lanes of I-57. The device punctured the ambulance’s front left tire, but Sligar kept driving for a short while before finally coming to a stop around milepost 250. She was arrested without any incidents and taken into custody.
Sligar reportedly told Rantoul police that she was planning to go to her job at a St. Louis department store, though she also mentioned considering a trip to Marion, Illinois. She claimed her car and wallet had been stolen, though no evidence of this has been confirmed.
The stolen ambulance, known as Ambulance No. 4, was later seen back in service during a fire scene in Long Grove on Monday night, as captured by photographer Larry Shapiro. The incident has raised concerns about hospital security and the risks associated with such reckless behavior.